Thursday, January 24, 2013

Old Movies

There are some movies that touch our hearts, that transport us to another place and time. Regardless of how many times we've seen them they stay special to us. We can recite the dialog, know each part by heart, yet we are drawn to them and watch them over and over again. My hubby loves action flicks....Gone in 60 Seconds with Nicolas Cage or The Transformers. He loves them and gets all excited...."Check this out"....."I had a car like that"....."Eleanor".....I guess for me it's the "chick flicks" that make me smile and stop me. I love "You've Got Mail" with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. They fall in love and he hangs in there through it all. The New York City setting makes me sort of homesick (just sort of).  Even the music at the end of the movie "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" is just right.  Enjoy.

Friday, January 18, 2013

Free Crochet Pattern: Handy Mitt Potholders

I was going through my stack of vintage magazines and found this pattern in a Woman’s Day from the 1970’s.
They are called Handy Mitt Potholders and would make a great gift for the cook on your list or to keep.

Size: 8 1/2 inches from lower edge to top.
Materials: Aunt Lydia’s Heavy Rug Yarn (rayon/cotton)

For solid-color mitt: 1 (70 yard) skein each peacock No. 740 and spring green No. 605. For Striped mitt: 1 (70-yard) skein each peacock 740, spring green No. 605, brown No. 420, phantom red No. 140 and cerise No. 115. For both mitts: Aluminum crochet hook size G (or international 4.5 mm).
Gauge: in pattern st 5 groups = 3 inches, 3 rows = 1 inch.
Striped Mitt:  Starting at wrist edge with peacock, ch 17 to measure about 5 1/2 inches. 1st row: In 3rd ch from hook work 1 sc and 1 dc (1st group made), * skip next ch, in next ch work 1 sc and 1 dc. Repeat from * across (8 groups); ch 1, turn.
2nd row: *Skip dc, in next sc work 1 sc and 1 dc. Repeat from * across, ch 1, turn.
Repeat 2nd row 4 times more. 7th row: Work across in pattern, ch 3 at end of row. Mark this edge for thumb. 8th row (thumb inc): In 3rd ch from hook work 1 sc and 1 dc, continue across row in pattern as established; break off peacock, attach green; ch 1, turn.
Working in pattern with green, work even on 9 groups for 3 rows more, ending at marked edge. Do not ch 1 at end of last row. Break off green, turn.
Next row; Make lp on hook with brown. Skip 1st 2 groups, work 1 sc and 1 dc in sc of next group, continue across in pattern to end of row (7 groups); ch 1, turn. Working even in pattern on 7 groups, work 1 row more with brown, 3 rows with red and 3 rows cerise.
Next row (dec row): With cerise, work in pattern across to within last group, work 1 sc in sc of last group; ch 1, turn. Following row (dec row): Skip 1st sc, work 1 sc and 1 dc in sc of next group, work in pattern across to within last group, work 1 sc in sc of last group; ch 1 turn. Repeat last row twice more, omitting ch 1 at end of last row. Break off.
Thumb: 1st row: Make lp on hook with brown. Starting at outer edge, work in pattern st across free green sts (2 groups); ch 1, turn. Continue in pattern on these 2 groups only for 3 rows more. 5th row (dec row): Skip 1st de, draw up lp in each of next 3 sts, y o hook and draw through all lps on hook. Break off. With brown, work 1 row sc evenly on all edges of thumb sts. only. Break off.
Second Side of Mitt: Make another pieces in same manner.
Finishing: Edging: with red, work 1 row sc all around edges, except wrist edge, of both pieces. Joining: With red, sew both pieces together from the right side. Wrist Edging: With red, work around wrist edge as follows: Work 2 sc in each sc around. Break off. Loop: Attach red with sl st to wrist at seam edge and crochet 2 inch chain. Sl st in each st of ch. Sew end of ch to mitten to form loop.
Solid Color Mitt: First side of Mitt: Using only peacock: work as for striped mitt.
Second side of Mitt: Using only green, make another piece in same manner.
Finishing: Using only green, work as for striped mitt for edging, wrist edging, joining and loop.
A pattern like this can be modernized using “now” colors and different yarn. Try two strands of thick eco-friendly cotton yarn or maybe make your own yarn out of old t-shirts.

Post by GoofingOff

Peace, love, and Happy Stitching!